Hey guys. What's the history on the PRR's MP54s? I had a guy ask me the other day about the vintage of our #442, and I honestly couldn't think of much to tell him. I remember hearing somewhere that the 54s were built from earlier coaches, perhaps some of the P70s. When were they first introduced? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Seth

Wilmington & Western Railroad
sethajackson@hotmail.com

Seth:

The MP-54 cars are (were?) an electric MU adaptation of the P-54 commuter coaches. These short (60 ft.) clerestory-roofed steel cars were common in Pittsburgh commuter service, on the LIRR's steam-hauled trains, and on plenty of PRR branchline locals. When the Main Line was electrified to Paoli in 1915, a bunch of MP-54s were built for the service, and they went on to be the standard MU car for the Standard Railroad until the 1960s.

The P-70 was a long-distance, mainline service coach. 80 feet long, they were first built about 1907, and were turned out in massive numbers (2000+ I think). The first try at a steel coach by PRR was the one-of-a-kind P-58, a 70-foot car dating to 1905-6. The P-58 survived, and is now at the Museum at Strasburg, along with a very typical P-70 of the 1940s.

The Pa. State Museum guys and the full-bore PRR people could give you plenty more details.

Howard P.
(who messed with a few P-70s in his life)

hpincus@mindspring.com

n/m



Wilmington & Western Railroad
sethajackson@hotmail.com